The Washington critic., 1887-11-15
WORRY THAT KILLS"
Something for 0vcrworkers to Read and
Think About.
CAUSES OF BRAIN DISEASE.

DR.. w. W. Godding, the accom-.
plished Superintendent of the Govern.
ment Hospital for the Insane. delivered
lecture last Friday evening before the
Young Mems Christian Association,
which abounds In thoughts and sug.
gestions that the busy men OF the
world, who are literally working them.
selves TO death, should take to their
hearts and carefully ponder. Some of
Its apt illustrations Of the causes thai
tend to the impairment Of the intellect
and ultimate insanity will be found In
the following extracts:
CAUSES or BRAIN DISEASE.
"The normal condition NJ our brains
is not one Of weakness. Thought and
mental application are the natural outcome
Of the brain cells have lately seen
statement attributed to DIR. William A
Hammond, to the effect that man cannot
safely apply his brain for more than eight
hours In the twenty four to steady mental
work. There is no such elght-hour law In
nature. There are plenty OF men who can.
not stand elk hours continuous mind work.
There are others that twelve hours study
will not impair. 1t is not the working
time, but the working trim. So long as
the individual is happy In his work, the
healthy brain hardly knows fatigue. II Is
worry that kills, Some one has said that
the three WIS are answerable for most OF
the progressive brain dlseases OF to-day,
viz, very, wine and women
DRoKEN DOWN SCHOOL GIRLS.
"Wiihin the past eighteen months two
young girls, victims OF our High School
system, have come under my care, neither
specially brilliant iutellects or remarkable
| for attalnments, but both, as l believe,
broken down in mind by mere worry aud
strain in striving to keep up TO the grade
OF their class. In this age OF high pressure,
with Its men Of restless energy, brilliant
promise and premature failure, 1t is OF the
| first importance to the health OF your brains
that you have something to do and do II,
that you sleep well, live we'll aud do not
worry. When care aud anxiety come,
sleep goes, and he who sups with sorrow
hath no appetite.
| NECESSITY OF RECREATION.
| "ln the same direction is tho advice to
put some playtime into your lives, and SC
avoid letting that life run into ruts. There
are men whose whole existence Ia devoted
to the profession or calling which they have
taken up. Could anything make them surei
to succeed or be better than this9 In Ger
tain sense and within certain limits, no
Pushed and jostled as you are sure to be II
this busy world Of ours by the sharp compe
tition OF others you will prosper in nothing
that you do not enter into with your Who'll,
might, soul and strength. Then wha
could be better than this entire devotion tt
businessf For the hygiene Of your brain
an hour or two for relaxation every day
with little wholesome neglect OF that samt
business, would be far better.
THE POOR RICH MAN.
"There arc many men who literally de
vote their whole lives to the one business o
coming money, and some Of them make
mint Of 1t. Poor as am, have come t,
pity some OF them-these men that are mad
Of money. Called In consultation In IN,
professional capacity, find q poor ricl
man who is breaking down under the nine
teenth century strain---a man who has mad
business his life and money his god. Fo
hin nothing has any beauty, nothing an
charm but money-making. He early pu
the machine in motion, and has devoted hi
whole life to watching It coin money; an,
now 1t must stop, but the stopping will xii
him, and yet without rest he must die. Fo
you and me-without scrip, and hardly tw
coats apiece for the journey-thls grea,
wide world is full OF vacation rambles an,
pleasant, restful places. For him there |
no rest but the grave, whittier he is going.